List

A Flexible Approach to Calculating

The tasks in this feature are designed to encourage learners to make, and justify, decisions about the method they use to solve a calculation. If we give pupils opportunities to choose a method that is well suited to a particular calculation, they will become curious, adventurous mathematicians, and are more likely to be accurate compared with following a procedure without reflecting first.

Let's Get Flexible!
article

Let's get flexible!

In this article for primary teachers, Ems outlines how we can encourage learners to be flexible in their approach to calculation, and why this is crucial.
Fruity Pairs
problem
Favourite

Fruity pairs

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star

Which two items of fruit could Kate and Sam choose? Can you order the prices from lowest to highest?

Subtraction Slip
problem
Favourite

Subtraction slip

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you spot the mistake in this video? How would you work out the answer to this calculation?
Countdown
game
Favourite

Countdown

Here is a chance to play a version of the classic Countdown Game.

Picture Your Method
problem
Favourite

Picture your method

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you match these calculation methods to their visual representations?
Compare the Calculations
problem
Favourite

Compare the calculations

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
filled star empty star empty star
Can you put these four calculations into order of difficulty? How did you decide?
Method in multiplying madness?
problem
Favourite

Method in multiplying madness?

Age
7 to 14
Challenge level
filled star filled star empty star
Watch our videos of multiplication methods that you may not have met before. Can you make sense of them?
Number Fluency
list

Number fluency

Age
5 to 11
This feature brings together tasks which help to develop learners' fluency in the context of number and calculation.